This briefing paper presents statistical evidence from a variety of data sources that the real income of the average U.S. household has been stagnant for a decade; primary causes are also examined. The major reasons identified for income stagnation are (1) declining real wages; (2) a less productive economy (economic growth has slowed down) causing unemployment rates to rise; (3) a huge U.S. merchandise trade deficit with other nations caused by growing imports; (4) loss of higher-paying jobs as a result of the expanding trade deficit; (5) declining proportion of middle-income jobs within both the goods-producing and the service-producing sectors and rising proportion of low-paying jobs; (6) failure of the minimum wage to keep up with inflation; (7) less likelihood of laid-off workers finding comparable paying jobs, even if they are reemployed; (8) increased hiring by employers of part-time workers at low wages without fringe benefits; and (9) increased housing costs in real terms. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of continuing with the same economic policies that have led to economic stagnation. Thirty-six tables and their sources are included. (NLL)